How to Undo Send in Outlook Email(Web, Desktop & Mobile Guide)
29 juil. 2025
Learn how to use undo send in Outlook across desktop, web, and mobile. Fix sent emails fast with recall and delay options.
You hit Send and instantly regret it. You forgot the attachment, typed the wrong name, or spotted a typo too late. If you're using Outlook and looking for an Undo button, we've all been there.
Outlook gives you two ways to fix a mistake: Undo Send in Outlook, which delays delivery by a few seconds, and Recall, which tries to delete the message from the recipient’s inbox.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to undo emails in Outlook on desktop, web, and mobile, including when it works and when it doesn’t, as well as how to avoid needing to use it in the first place.
Key Takeaways:
Use Undo Send in Outlook to delay sending by up to 10 seconds—perfect for catching small mistakes.
Outlook’s Recall feature lets you try to delete a sent email from the recipient’s inbox, but only in certain conditions (like both users on Microsoft 365).
You can’t cancel an email after sending if the delay has passed or the message is already opened.
Avoid relying on Undo and set a short delay by default, double-check your message, and add recipients last.
Tools like NewMail AI can help draft, review, and polish emails before you hit send.
What Is Undo Send in Outlook?
Outlook’s Undo Send feature works by delaying the actual sending of your email for a short period, giving you a small window to cancel it before it leaves your outbox.
This isn’t a true “unsend” after delivery, like pulling back a message that’s already reached someone’s inbox. Instead, Outlook holds your message briefly (up to 10 seconds on web and Mac, or longer if you manually configure a delay on Windows).
If you're using Microsoft 365 or Outlook with a corporate Exchange account, Outlook also offers a Recall Message feature. This allows you to attempt a retraction of a sent email, but it comes with strict conditions and often fails if the email has already been read or if the recipient is outside your organization.
Below, we’ll cover both approaches:
How to delay and undo send in Outlook (Web, Mac, and Windows)
How message recall works, when it succeeds, and why it often doesn’t
Let’s start with the safer, more reliable option: delaying the send.
How to Undo Send in Outlook
Outlook offers an Undo Send feature by introducing a short delay between when you hit Send and when the email actually leaves your outbox. During this brief period, you can click “Undo” to cancel the send.
How to enable Undo Send on Outlook Web and in the desktop
Click the Settings (⚙️) icon in the top right.
Select View all Outlook settings.
Go to Mail → Compose and reply.
Find the Undo send setting.
Adjust the slider to set your preferred delay (up to 10 seconds).
Click Save.
How to enable undo send on Outlook for Mac
Go to Outlook → Preferences → Composing.
Under Undo Send, click the "+" to increase the delay time
Once enabled, you'll see an Undo button at the bottom of the screen after sending an email. Click it before the timer runs out to stop the message from being sent.
How to Recall an Outlook Message
You sent the email too fast, and now you need it back. Maybe you shared outdated figures, used the wrong tone, or hit "Reply All" by mistake. In Microsoft Outlook, the Recall Message function lets you try to retrieve that email before it’s read.
This feature is designed for workplace use, particularly inside Microsoft 365 environments. But it comes with strict conditions and a high failure rate. Before relying on it, it’s worth understanding how Outlook recall actually works and where it falls short.
To recall a message, both you and the recipient must:
Be using Microsoft 365 work or school accounts.
Belong to the same organization (same Exchange environment).
Be using Outlook desktop or the new Outlook experience.
If these conditions are met and the recipient hasn't opened the email, Outlook will try to delete it from their inbox or replace it with an updated version.
How to Recall a Message in Outlook (New Outlook + Web + Mac)
Open Sent Items and double-click the email to open it in a separate window.
From the ribbon, select Recall Message.
Click OK in the confirmation popup.
You’ll receive a Message Recall Report via email shortly after.
Click the link inside the report to check whether your recall succeeded, is pending, or failed.
If you’re replacing the original email (e.g., to fix an error or attach a missing file), Outlook will prompt you to write and send a new message.
Read the official Microsoft guide on recalling emails in Outlook
How to Recall an Outlook Message (Android and iOS)
Outlook's mobile apps now support message recall, a long-requested feature for users on the go. If you catch a mistake right after sending, you can attempt to retract the email directly from your phone.
Steps to recall a message on mobile:
Open the Outlook app on your Android or iOS device.
Go to the Sent folder and tap the message you want to recall.
Tap the three-dot menu (•••) in the top-right corner of the email.
Select Recall from the menu.
After submission, Outlook will send you a status email confirming whether the recall succeeded.
Available to Android Beta and iOS TestFlight users on version 4.2504.0 or later (expected rollout from February 2025).
Read the Microsoft update for Outlook Android and iOS
Important Limits to Keep in Mind
Doesn’t work with Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook.com, Live.com, or any non-Exchange account.
Mac users need to be on Outlook version 16.94 or later for recall to be available.
Emails that have already been read cannot be recalled.
You won’t see the Recall button if your account doesn’t support it.
Emails protected by Azure Information Protection can’t be recalled.
Outlook will retry recall attempts for up to 24 hours if the recipient's mailbox is temporarily unavailable.
When You Can’t Undo or Recall a Sent Outlook Email
Outlook’s Undo Send and Recall features are helpful, but they’re not foolproof. There are several scenarios where these functions won't work, and it’s important to understand those limits before relying on them:
Undo Send timeout has passed: If your delay (set under Compose and Reply) is over—say, 10 seconds—Outlook sends the message immediately. After that, it cannot be stopped.
Recipient has already opened the message: Even with the Recall feature, if the recipient views the email before the recall request is processed, the attempt will fail.
You’re not on a Microsoft 365 account within the same organization: Message recall only works if both you and the recipient are on Microsoft 365 and part of the same organization. It won’t work for Gmail, Yahoo, or other external inboxes.
You're using a non-supported platform or version: The mobile recall feature is only available for Android Beta and iOS TestFlight users with version 4.2504.0 or higher. Older versions and standard public releases won’t show the option.
The email is too old: Outlook may block recall attempts for messages that are no longer recent, even if they meet all other criteria.
These tools offer a small window to fix mistakes, not a guaranteed reversal. When in doubt, follow up with a corrected message and a quick explanation.
Best Practices to Avoid Using Undo Send
While Undo Send and Recall offer a safety net, the best approach is to avoid needing them at all. These habits reduce the risk of mistakes before your message ever goes out:
Use a send checklist: Before sending, quickly scan for attachments, recipient names, tone, and key details. A 5-second checklist can prevent major embarrassment.
Write first, add recipients last: Always leave the “To” field blank while drafting. This avoids premature sends and lets you refine your message without worry.
Use templates for recurring emails: Reuse standardized formats for client updates, reports, or internal requests.
To create a template in Outlook, go to the Insert tab > Quick Parts > Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.
To insert a saved Quick Part while drafting an email, go to the Insert tab in the email compose window, click Quick Parts, and select the desired Quick Part from the dropdown list.
Let AI writing assistants review your draft: Use built-in or third-party tools to check grammar, tone, and clarity before you send.
Pause before sending high-stakes emails: For emotionally sensitive or high-impact emails, save the draft and review it after a break. A second look with a clear mind can prevent regrets.
Final Thoughts
Mistakes happen, but your email toolset can help reduce them. Whether you're relying on Undo Send for a quick catch or Recall for internal messages, Outlook provides flexible safeguards. Still, nothing beats good habits: writing carefully, reviewing thoroughly, and sending mindfully.
If you want even more support while drafting, consider using NewMail AI. It helps you write clear, polished emails, catch errors before you hit send, and manage repetitive communication by learning your tone and contexts, so you rely less on damage control and more on sending with confidence.
Try NewMail AI for freeto streamline your email workflow and avoid common pitfalls before they cost you time or trust.
